Metallic culvert.



J. E. SPERRY.

METALLIC OULVERT. Arrmoulon FILED slm. 5, 190e.

906,953. Patented De@.15 ,19os.

JOHN E. SPERRY, OF MNNSVILLE, NEllVv YORK.

METALLIC cULvEn'r.

no', coasts.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 15, 1908.

Application led September 51908. Serial No. 451,779.

To all whom it may concern." f

Be it known that I, JOHN SPERRY, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Munnsville, in. the county of Madison,l in the State of New York, have invented new and useful improvements in' Metallic Culverts,

- of Qivhich the following, taken in connection with the 'accompanying drawings, is a full, clear, and exact description.l

This invention relates to metallic culverts of that style comprising essentially three separable plates arrangedl in triangular rel ai tion to form its side-walls and base and having interlockingengagement.

The present invention resides in the novel i manner of joining the side-plates and-baseplate, the `object being to provide a more positive interlocking connection for the said side-plates and lbase-plate and at the same time produce a structure which shall be capable of expanding and contractlng to a proper degree to compensate for the action of frost in the ground or other conditions tending t0 impart lateral movement inthe side-plates,

it being contemplated under this improvement, the absolute prevention of disengage" ment of the plates when the side-plates are moved outwardly to a great extent.

A. further ob] ect of the invention is to proy vide., the upper portions of each of the opposed side-plates with bearings for effectually retaining the plates in proper relation and at the same time cause their vmeeting edges to lie flush one against the other.

Another object is to produce a culvert of the aforesaid character which shall be simple, strong and reliablel in construction, and will permit the parts to bc easily and conveniently assembled, and will be inexpensive to manufacture.

To that end my invention consists of a sectional culvert comprising essentially three plates arranged triangularly to form the usual base and two sides, the base-plate being provided with two series of apertures disposed along its respective longitudinal edge portions, and the said side-plates formed at their lower edges with projections adapted to engage said apertures as will be hereinafter more fully explained.

The invention also consistsl in the combination of two opposed side-plates and a case-plate arranged in triangular relation and having interlocking engagement, the said side-plates being provided with vertical abutting faces and leachforined adj acent-'to its abutting face with a lip. having a bearing face for the other plate, said bearing surf faces being inclined directly from abutting faces to cause the latter to lie flush.

In the accompanying drawings Figure l is a side-elevation of a culvert embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a transverse section on the line :1x-; Fig. 3 is an inner face view of one of the side-plates; and Fig. e is a plan view of a base-plate.

Like numerals vof reference indicate like parts in the several views.

My improved culvert comprises a baseplate -,land side-plates -2-2 preferably of cast-metal, and4 arranged in triangular relation. The base-plate -1- is jcurved in the usual manner and is preferably formed on its lower or exterior face with a series of strengthen1ng-ribs-3-3- which are common to all culvertstof this character. The side-plates Q -Q are also formed with strengthening-ribs -fl-tJ- on the exterior face.

It is obvious that in constructing a culvert of considerable length, the plates are made in sections which are of proper lengths to break joints in the well known manner. The base-plate --lis provided with a series of apertures -5-5- along each of its longitudinal marginal edges. These apertures are usually of rectangular shape, the elongation beinglengthwise of the base, and the two series are disposed preferably in staggered relation as clearly shown in Fig. 4.

At the lower edges of the side-plates are formed tongues or projections (3--6- which engage the respective apertures -5-5 and thereby interlock the said sideplates with the base-plate. Said tongues are preferably deiected outwardly in the shape of Ahooks, 4and the apertures are of such width as to require the tops of the plates to be moved apart to a considerable degree in order to permit the tongues to pass-through the, apertures and thus the side-plates are eectually prevented from becoming ,disengaged from the base-plate while in normal positions, and at the same time the side-plates are afforded a limited amount of expansion when subjected to outward pressure from any of the well-known causes.

By joining the plates in the manner described, it will bc seen by reference to Figs. 2 and l of the drawings, that'a continuous` loo flange is provided at each side of the base as indicated at -7 whereby `the base will `be afforded a securehold in the ground.

The upper edges of the opposed' sideplates are prov'ded Wit-h vertical abutting faces -S-8-, and each plate is formed adjacent to the edge with a lip 94- having an inclined upper face extending ldirectly from the abutting face, said inclined l0 face affording a bearing for the other plate and causing the abutting faces of the plates to lie flush with each othei'.

What I claim is l. An expansible metallic culvert com prising three separable plates arranged in triangular relation to form the base and sides thereof, the side-plates abutting each other With a iiushjoint and joined With the base-plate by interlocking tongues and apertures affording said side-plates a limited amount of expansion.

2. A metallic culvert `comprising separable plates joined expansible by interlocking hook-shaped tongues and apertures.

of its longitudinal edges, .and the said sideplates formed at their lower edges With out- Wardly deflected tongues engaging said apertures.

4. An expansible metallic culvert coinprising three separable plates constituting the base and sides thereof, the base-plate provided With rectangular-shaped apertures arranged in series, and the side-plates formed With tongues passing through 4the said apertures and having their upper edge portions formed with vertical faces abutting with a Hush oint.

5. An expansible metallic culvert comprising three separable plates arranged in triangular relation and forming the base and sides thereof, the base-plate being interlocked with the side-plates and provided with continuous longitudinal marginal fianges, and said side-plates havingvertical abutting faces and each provided adjacent to and below its abutting face With a bearing for'the other. l

(5. A metallic culvert comprising three separable plates arranged in triangular relation and constituting its base and sides, the base-plate beingl provided with apertures, and the side-plates formed at their lower edges with outwardly deflected tongues engaging said apertures, the-upper portions of said sideplates being provided with vertical abutting faces and veach formed thereat with a lip projecting toward the opposed plate, the ylip of each plate having a face inclined directly from the abutting face to produce a bearing for the other plate, and thus cause the two abutting faces to lie Hush With each other.

JOHN E. sPERRY. [L sj Witnesses:

J. J LAAss, G. KAISER. 

